The top leadership of Dominican businesses have united with PLD party leaders in their rejection of a wage hike as part of the tax reform package, particularly the 30% wage increase proposed by Senator Ramon Alburquerque. Elena Viyella de Paliza, the head of CONEP, told reporters that her group was opposed to the wage increase because such a motion should be initiated at the National Committee of Salaries and not in Congress. The CONEP statement follows the PRD legislators’ introduction of a motion to include a 30% wage increase for the Senate’s consideration. The often fiery business spokeswoman told reporters she found it “curious that at a time when the exchange rate is falling, the peso is getting stronger and the interest rates are dropping, there should be a proposal of this nature.” Viyella spoke after a long meeting with fellow business leaders that included Campos de Moya, Yandra Portela, Arturo Peguero, Guillermos Leon Nouel, and Jorge Ivan Ramirez.